| 1 | 1 | | 89R16160 KKR-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Paxton S.B. No. 2745 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to a cost-of-living increase applicable to death benefits |
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| 10 | 10 | | paid to spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty under |
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| 11 | 11 | | the workers' compensation system. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Section 408.181(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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| 14 | 14 | | read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) Subject to Section 408.061 and except as provided by |
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| 16 | 16 | | Section 408.1811, the amount of a death benefit is equal to 75 |
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| 17 | 17 | | percent of the employee's average weekly wage. |
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| 18 | 18 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 408, Labor Code, is |
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| 19 | 19 | | amended by adding Section 408.1811 to read as follows: |
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| 20 | 20 | | Sec. 408.1811. AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFITS FOR ELIGIBLE |
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| 21 | 21 | | SPOUSES OF CERTAIN FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) Notwithstanding Section |
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| 22 | 22 | | 408.061, the amount of a death benefit paid to an eligible spouse of |
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| 23 | 23 | | a first responder described by Section 408.183(b-1) is increased to |
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| 24 | 24 | | include a three percent cost of living adjustment in accordance |
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| 25 | 25 | | with Subsection (b) each calendar year. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) Not later than January 1 of each year, an insurance |
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| 27 | 27 | | carrier shall recompute the amount of a death benefit to be paid |
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| 28 | 28 | | under this section by applying the three percent adjustment to the |
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| 29 | 29 | | amount otherwise required to be paid under Section 408.181. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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| 31 | 31 | | to a death benefit payment made on or after January 1, 2026. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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